Top one tallest idol 76-feet is coming up at Lankavari Street in Gajuwaka. The president of the Sampath Vinayak Youth Association, Gajuwaka, Mr Jagadiswar Reddy, pointed out that last year the idol at Khairatabad in Hyderabad was just 65-ft tall. Gajuwaka too has got nine craftsmen from Bengal to work on their idol, which they claim will be “one of the best in the country.”

---Hyderabad: For the past several years it is a Ganesha idol in Hyderabad that is crowned the tallest Ganesha in the country every Vinayaka Chaturthi. But this year is going to be different. Two Ganesh idols from Visakhapatnam have beaten the Hyderabad idol in the battle of sizes. So, a 76-feet tall Ganesha statue made in Vizag, with soil brought from West Bengal, is India's tallest.

But what's a festival atmosphere without some friendly contest. A Ganesha idol, again in Vizag, came a close second at 70 feet. But unlike idols which are taken to the nearest water body for immersion, these two idols will not travel to the beach and will have to make do with fire engines doing the job by throwing water at them, 10 days from now.

"70 per cent water and 30 per cent milk and vermillion will be used for the immersion. We have used only water colours for this idol," said a devotee.
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Second Place Dondaparthy Junction — where a 72-ft idol is being erected — is likely to make the biggest laddu weighing 75 kg to set another record. This was revealed by the Sri Rajeev Yuvashakti Association president, Mr B. Appala Raju Reddy. On the last day of the festival, the laddu will be auctioned. Interestingly, none of the three 70-ft plus idols would be taken in a procession for immersion. They would be “molten down” at the pandals with powerful showers of water laced with milk, honey, kumkum and haldi (turmeric).

The organisers said they were taking all precautions and safety measures to ensure the idols stood firm in their place. The commissioner of police, Mr J. Purnachandra Rao, told this correspondent that he would check the structural stability of the idols in the interest of the public safety.

The Vizag Ganeshas have managed to dwarf the 50-feet-tall Hyderabad Ganesha, which till last year used to lord over everyone else in the country.

The tradition of making Ganesha here dates back to 1954; this year, the Rs. 30 lakh worth idol is a shade more eco-friendly.

"We do not get into competing on the size of God. Every year, we increase the size by a couple of feet," said M Sudershan, one of the makers of Ganesha in Hyderabad.

Though the Hyderabad Ganesha has lost its USP of being the country's tallest, the makers say it is still the most elegant and regal of all Ganeshas. And in fact, after a gap of 30 years, the creators have made this Ganesha with five heads.

PHOTO: Mandar Deodhar / India TodaynextFirst glimpse of the Lalbaugcha Raja in Mumbai. Preparations are almost complete at Lalbaugcha Raja on Friday, September 10, 2010. The Lalbaugcha Raja Sarvajanik Ganeshotsav Mandal, that hosts the Lalbaugcha Raja Ganeshotsav, has anchored a giant float off Girgaum Chowpatty beach to carry the giant idol into deep waters.

PHOTO: Mandar Deodhar / India TodaybacknextFirst glimpse of the Lalbaugcha Raja in Mumbai. Preparations are almost complete at Lalbaugcha Raja on Friday, September 10, 2010.

Lalbaugcha Raja. Mumbai's most popular Ganesh idol. This year the set takes on the look of a king's durbar (court). However, be prepared to wait four to six hours to see it. This mandal draws millions of devotees. Where: Lalbaug. Walking distance from Lower Parel, Curry Road, and Chinchpolki stations.

Ganesh Galli. Just a stone's throw away from the Lalbaughcha Raja, this mandal is famous for having grand new themes every year. This year, the set has been constructed to resemble Mysore's Chamundeshwari Temple. Where: Parel. Walking distance from Lower Parel and Curry Road stations.

Khetwadicha Raja. A spectacular statue with intricate gold and diamond work, and with tusks of pure gold. Its set has been modeled to recreate heaven. Where: 12th Lane Kehetwadi. A short walk from Grant Road East station.

GSB Seva. Mumbai's gold Ganesh. This 20 foot idol is adorned in 61 kilograms of pure gold, 350 kilograms of silver. It will only remain for the first five days of the festival though. Where: G.S.B. Sports Club Ground, Near S.N.D.T. Women's College, R. A. Kidwai Road, King's Circle.